American Toby Jug Museum 

Laura Secord character jug produced by Roy Charles Asplin of Niagara, Ontario, Canada, circa 1970. Laura Secord (1775-1868) was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for having walked 20 miles out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to warn British forces of an impending American attack. In 1813 the Americans invaded the Niagara Peninsula. During the occupation, Secord acquired information about a planned American attack, and stole away on the morning of June 22 to inform Lieutenant James FitzGibbon in the territory still controlled by the British. The information helped the British and their Mohawk allies repel the invading Americans at the Battle of Beaver Dams. Her contribution to the war was little known during her lifetime, but since her death she has been frequently honored in Canada. The story of Laura Secord has taken on mythic overtones in Canada. Her tale has been the subject of books, plays, and poetry, often with many embellishments.